Here ya' go!

Since I am always signing up for awesome freebies and samples from all over, I figured I would start listing what I receive in the mail each day. When possible, I will post a link so others can sign up as well. Most of the free samples I have gotten came from Wal-mart. There hasn't been any mail yet today, so I will just list a few things I have gotten free so far this year.

- At least 8 different razors
- Lots of deodorant samples
- Make-up samples
- dog treats
- tote bags
- toothpaste
- 2 ipod shuffles
- address labels
- picture frames

There are ALOT more things I have gotten throughout the year, and that doesn't include the gift cards I have gotten! I also do test products for certain survey companies. If you would like any info on how I get things like this, just let me know!!! I just might share some of my secrets with you! LOL ;)

Ok, so here is what I got in the mail yesterday:

- Free Dragon Dagger for doing a blog post about a company
- junk mail

I'll post what I get today in the mail when we finally get it!! ;)

**Edited to add what I got in the mail:
- $5 cash for doing a survey!

Christmas project

So i've been working on a christmas present for a friend of mine, and it is really coming along! I am so proud at how far I have gotten with it, considering I don't really have alot of time to work with it. Zane even commented on how it looks the other day! It's the first cross stitch pattern I have really concentrated this hard on....I so can't wait to see the finished project!!! Now I just need to come up with a few more projects for a few more people.....anyone have any idea's?!?

**I was going to take pics of the progress, but i'm not sure who will see them and I don't want the person I am making this for see it! Plus, i'm not sure how many of these I am making. ;-)

Losing it!!!!

When I went to the doctor last thursday, I had gained 3 lbs since the last time I was there......that was only 2 weeks ago!! I was so bummed, because I had been eating so much better the past month and can't understand how I gained anything. I had been having problems with constipation (I know, more info than you wanted, right?!?) and the doctor mentioned about switching my sugar pills. Well, I started taking them and boy do they work for the bathroom problem!! So I got on the scale yesterday morning and found out I have lost 4 lbs in only 3 days!! I was so happy!!! I think I am finally on the right track as far as weight is an issue. I decided to add the weight loss ticker at the top of my page to show my progress.......i'm only couting down the weight loss 10 lbs at a time. That way I can tackle one small goal at a time!

Friday is here!!

Wow, where did this week go? I feel like this week completely got away from me! The weather this week wasn't too bad. We finally got some much needed rain around here....my poor tomato plants really needed it! It's actually been pretty cool out, too. Today is supposed to be warm and humid again, but this weekend they are calling for more rain.......I say "Bring it on!!!"

Monday night Zane was driving past our landlords driveway when he motioned Zane to pull in. So Zane pulled in to talk with him, and he told him that a house that is only a few hundred yards away from ours was broken in to! HOW SCARY!!! I couldn't believe it.....I mean, we live so far out I honestly never expected anything like that to happen around here. We live so far out, we don't even get trash pick up!!!!! So how in the world did someone find a home out here to break into?!? Needless to say, i've been scared to even open up the curtains during the day since Zane told me what happened. The landlord did tell Zane to let me know he would be keeping an eye out for us during the day since Ty and I are home by ourselves, and that if we needed him to just call.....I do feel more at ease knowing he is so close during the day, but it's still a little creepy. Hopefully we'll find out this weekend if anyone around here has heard any more info about the break-in......

Wednesday was such a gloomy day out. Around 1pm, we started hearing thunder, and the sky got darker. I was sitting in the recliner, working on some cross stitch when I caught something from the corner of my eye in the backyard. I looked out and saw this adorable little dog running towards the sliding glass door! I jumped up to go out to the pup, and when I opend the door she kept trying to get in. I scooped her up (after letting her sniff my hand several times) and she was shaking....poor little thing was scared of the storm. It was also starting to rain so I decided to bring her in. She had a collar on, so I tried to call the number but it had been disconnected. Her name was on the tag.....Tricky. She was adorable!!! She was a Pekinguese (sp?) and had been shaved. I just fell in love with her adorable face......and I knew someone had to be missing her! When Zane came home, we drove to the street behind our house and stopped at a home we thought she might belong to....turns out the lady didn't own her, but knew where she lived. So we drove to that house, but no one was home. One of the neighbor's said she definitely belongs to the people at that home, and that we could leave her on the porch. I felt so bad leaving her like that, but the neighbor said someone should be home soon to get her. It makes me sad that people don't provide better homes for the dogs. We always see a stray dog around here, and that ticks me off!! Those poor dogs could get hit by a car or truck, or get hurt by a raccoon or some other animal. *sigh* So sad.....

Speaking of animals, just this week we've had several deer in the backyard, that little dog, AND 3 wild turkeys!!! I've never seen more than one wild turkey at a time, but wednesday night there were 3 at once!! They are so cute and funny! We've also had some sort of yucky beetles flying around....there have been hundreds of them at a time flying around!! YUCK!!!

Well, I guess I need to get moving. Ty is about ready for his nap and if doesn't get one, he is grumpy! LOL Not sure what to have for dinner tonight.....maybe some fried shrimp? I have no idea........Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!!!!

Doctor yesterday

So, I had to go back to the doctor yesterday afternoon. I was a little ticked off that I had to go back.....all I really needed was a refill on my blood pressure pills, but they said I had to come in to see the doc since he didn't originally give me the meds. I honestly feel like it was a waste of a co-pay....especially since money was so tight this week. But, he did end up changing my sugar pills. I am now on Metformin, which I was kind of dreading to go back on....but, in the long run it will be cheaper and easier to control my sugar with that. Zane takes Metformin and his sugars have been excellent! The only downside to Metformin is the fact that it can make you go to the bathroom.......alot. And i'm not talking about #1, either!!! Ahh, well.....whatever I need to do to control my sugar i'm willing to do. I did gain 3 lbs in 2 weeks, though......WTH?!?!? I've been eating so good!! He didn't seem too worried about it, and said one of the pills could cause me to gain weight, which I am now off of that pill!! So hopefully i'll start to lose weight within the next week. I don't have to go back until late next month.....YEAH!!!!

And more thunder.....

It's thundering pretty good out there again today....I just wish we would get some darn rain out of it!!! It did the same thing yesterday. My tomato plants are looking so pitiful.....they need some good rain!! I did have my very first tomato turn red last week. It didn't get very big, but boy was it YUMMY!!! It was the best tomato i've had in a very long time. I have two more that are an orange color right now.....I just wish they would get bigger before they would turn! The two new mater's that are changing color are actually bigger then the first one, but not by much. Ahh, well.....hopefully we'll get some good rain so they can grow bigger. They still taste super yummy, no matter what size they are! LOL

So, I ordered my second free ipod shuffle today!!! I sold the first one I earned, so I was ready for a new one. Hopefully i'll get it just as fast as I did the first one.....I redeemed my points on Monday and got it Friday! I did pick the color orange again. I think i'm going to work on trying to either a nano or a video ipod next. I just won't work so hard at it! LOL I did have to whip out the credit card this time, but I didn't have anything charged to it except for .99. I signed up for eMusic and got 70 songs. Once I downloaded what I wanted I canceled right online. So, I guess you could say the shuffle cost me a total of .99! LOL It was fun, but i'm so glad i'm done and have my shuffle on the way!

Saturday I was checking out eBay for some cross stitch patterns and found a gorgeous pattern I can use to make some Christmas gifts! I also ordered a book from Amazon.com with some beautiful native American cross stitch patterns. The pattern from eBay and the book from amazon cost me a total of $6! (ok, ok...I used an amazon.com gift card...LOL) Actually, it cost me nothing out of pocket because I used survey money I had in paypal. Now I need to build paypal back up so I can get the stuff I need to work on the cross stitch patterns i'm waiting on! LOL

I am STILL having a rough time getting my sugar readings under control. My morning readings (fasting numbers) are still in the 200's! Yesterday morning and this morning my reading was 204. I ate nothing after 7pm both nights. In fact, Monday night the only carbs I had at dinner time were from the rice! And I ate that at 5:30pm.....and ate nothing else after that! I increased one of my pills last night, but i'm thinking i'm going to have to bump it up again tonight. I know I can get this under control better....I just know I can! :)

Well, I guess I really should get off of here and get a few things done around here. Tonight for dinner we are having steak, rice, green beans, and possibly a salad for me. I'm cooking the steaks on the grill, that's for sure.....it's too darn hot to cook in that kitchen! LOL

Hope everyone is having a great week!!!!

*gasp* Can it be?!?!?

Is that THUNDER I hear in the distance?!? Oh my!!! I SO hope we get some rain out of the storms that are around us. We desperately need it. The poor grass is so burnt and hard. I don't know how Tyler walks barefoot on it! It's like walking on little needles....OUCH! They are actually calling for some good rain for us tonight and throughout the day tomorrow.

So, we have a follow-up doctor's appointment for this coming thursday at 10am. I can't wait! Zane needs to have his sugar pill changed since the pill he is on isn't working like it should. I feel so bad.....the last appointment we had was screwed up because of my pressure being so high. Zane kind of got pushed to the back burner. :( They did write him a 'script for his blood pressure pills and sugar pills, but he and the doctor didn't get to talk much about the medicines. So hopefully all of that will get straightened out.

My pressure has been almost perfect, thank goodness! My sugar readings on the other hnad still need much work. I really want to get back into exercising to help keep it under control. It's so hard because carbs are everywhere!!!! Everytime I think I finally find something that won't mess with my sugar too badly, I read the label and see the carbs in it. Ahh well, we'll get it under control.

Well, I know this is short but the thunder is getting stronger and closer so I guess that's my signal to get off of here. For dinner tonight we are grilling some steaks....YUM!! Not sure what else to have with it, though.......hope everyone is having a great week!!!